“Can you make this house livable for us?” This was the seemingly innocent request posed to the architects by the new owners of this house. It was a cartoon dwelling, with an asymmetrical structure blemished by several poorly constructed additions that would feel at home in a coloring book. Despite these difficulties, the building was strangely interesting – like an underdog you felt compelled to root for. So, it started with the basics…

The house was stripped down to its simplest saltbox shape. Dormers, clad in the same material as the roof, were used to make more efficient use of the second-floor spaces while emphasizing the original lines of the house. This house is no longer a caricature. It has found its roots and become a modern, livable dwelling, without losing its quirky charm.